Bloody flashing lights - cyclists are a danger

This sort of effect is why I run a Dinotte 400L taillight. The car
braked from 40mph to perhaps 15mph to pass me. Oh, and flashing lights
are perfectly legal for cyclists in the UK.

[Jonnybee]

When I'm driving I find flashing lights is one of the most distracting things

[freddotu]

SMIDSY?  nope!

In the USA, states create their own regulations. Florida recently put into law the legality of flashing lights. My daytime headlights flash and have caused only two oncoming motorists to pull off, over 36, 000 miles of riding.

Great video!

[bazk]

He seemed to see you at the last minute, good thing to, heavy braking..

[MatthewFordVictoria]

I've got 4000 Lumen Head and Tail lights on an electric wheelchair, which are so bright that oncoming vehicles flash their high beams at me. Police have slowed down and taken pictures of me, but these are Bike Lights and there's no laws against having them to see where I'm going!

[aaronwildeofficial]

Would these be the same drivers (ie most) who do not bother to dip their headlights for cyclists...?

[Camsplint]

Sorry to disappoint you Mikey, but flashing lights are only legal for cycles in the UK if they conform to BS 6102/3 or an equivalent EU standard, or have no steady setting, emit at least 4 candelas, and flash regularly between 60 and 240 times a minute.
I don't know about you, but I've only ever seen one rear light that does not have a steady mode (so is exempt from the requirement to meet standards) and that is the Reelight, and it is dubious whether that conforms to the requirement for flashing regularly, as it is run by a magnet on the wheel.
I find that the lit area is at least as beneficial as the total output in being seen, which is why I use a 5 LED light over 2" tall and almost as wide as the rear rack, mounted just under it.  It is BS approved, and is also available in models approved for several other EU markets (non-flashing for Germany, for example).
I also use some cheap blinkies as supplementaries (you can run almost anything as  long as it isn't your tail light, provided it isn't white at the rear or red at the front).

[seeulrwaynekerr]

Yeah the idiots in cars might see flashing lights as a danger, but to us they're often a life saver.
Yes i do use a strobing front and rear light. The front one is especially useful in built up areas but is angled corona to the road 20 feet in front on 1/4 power. To help see the pot holes. Then there's the light and motion on my helmet. This acts as the "eye of sarumon" and looks where I look. If I get someone who is being pushy with me, or fails to dip their main beams at night then they'll get strobe from that.

[JoeSoap]

Ooft! Check out the dip on that bonnet! He was fair standing on that brake! :-(

[chriswatson]

Thought it was illegal to have a flashing light fixed on the bike, and it had to be a static one instead. The only flashing light allowed being on the rider.

[MuppetAlex]

Yeah, big fan of rear flashy lights.  Its because they simulate movement and the human eye is designed to track movement.  You become more visible.  All good when out on the roads.

Luck

[DavidC]

the Dinotte just about saved your life again! ;)

[MegaScramble]

What was the problem here? You would be complaining if he did not break to overtake you too.

[KevR]

have to say I cycle and I am not a fan of flashing lights I have been put off when looking back and there has been a someone behind me with it flashing my thoughts are if someone is going to drive like a fool then it wont matter what your doing solid light or flashing one

[JakeThePeg]

Who's to say they wouldn't have braked in that manner anyway without the flashing lights?! Fact is they came round the corner without thinking about what might be there and had to adjust accordingly. I imagine the lights DID help. But to say that was the sole reason for the driver braking is surely pure speculation. A horse wouldn't normally have flashing lights on their backside but with any luck the driver would still have slowed down for them.

[TheBMH]

Worse than the normal videos and that's unbelievable

[johnboye]

O.M.G. Wots your problem ? The driver saw a slow moving vehicle ? Slowed down, gave you a wide berth did not shout obscenitys at you or make rude hand gesters at you ? Wots your problem Your trying to make a major incident from nothing Because it was a car ! Is it anything with an engine or just cars ?

[CRAD]

This guy pisses me off, he outlines every road user to be at fault when it's actually him being the obstruction and being so far up his own arse...